A Christmas meme.

I had read this wonderful Christmas meme from Julie and I asked her if I could also put this on my blog. She readily agrees as she said it's a fun way to get to know someone. So here it is and I wish you would also share with me your answers to these questions below.

1. Have you started your Christmas shopping?

No, I have not. But I don't have a long list and besides, I only purchase presents for the immediate family so I don’t have to worry about taking too much time.

2. Tell me about one of your special traditions.

We would all go to church to attend the midnight mass. Upon retuning home we would feast on our Noche Buena. Everyone is awake to partake on the table's fare and we stayed up all night exchanging banters and opening our present as it's nicer to open gifts at night when all the Xmas lights are on. If I am in the province with my folks, we would play majong( chinese bricks) till morning.

3. Are you a Black Friday shopper?

What is Black Friday? I shop if I have money, no matter what day it is!

4. When do you put up your tree?

At my old house, I would put up my Xmas tree a week after All Saints day, which is November 8. Yes, I like to spruce up the house early to enjoy the spirit of the holiday season longer. I don't have a tree in the apartment I am staying now because of space concern. I have a nativity though.

5. Do you travel at Christmas or stay home?

When the kids were in the province, I would travel there to spend Xmas and New year with them. I have to book a flight as early as October to get a discounted fare. Now that they are here, we just stay home as we don't have relatives here to visit during the holiday.

6. What is your funniest Christmas memory?

I don't remember a particular funny one. But I like spending Christmas in the country with my folks because the sheer number of people gathered there add to the festivity. It is heart warming to be among the people you care about during this time of the year.

7. What is your favorite Christmas movie of all time?

Does "Love Actually" counts? That movie takes place around Christmas.

8. Do you do your own Christmas baking, what’s your favorite treat?

I don't know how to bake. Haven't learned the craft so I always buy pastries. But I do know how to make a Mango Float with graham crackers which my kids love a lot.

9. Fake or Real Tree?

We always use a fake tree that I owned for like over ten years. I only add new things to hang there or changes the theme color depending on what I fancy.

10. What day (as a mom) does the actual panic set in to get it all done?

I never panic. There is not much to prepare as my kids aren't picky. They eat whatever is laid on the table and accept whatever gifts I gave them.

11. Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?

No way! If someone come and I don't have a gift ready to hand over, I can always give cash which is more appreciated as they can use to buy it whatever they want.

12. What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas?

I love it when after enjoying our food and opening the gifts, we would just gather around the couch and watch a movie.

13. What Christmas craft do you like the best?

I particularly like the Christmas lantern like the photo above. I like the way the lights changes and the way they seem to dance from the distance. We call our lantern - parol.

14. Christmas music. Yes or No, and if yes what is your favorite song?

Definitely, yes. Christmas songs for some reason make me sad. But I still like to listen to the haunting rendition of I'm Dreaming of a white Christmas. I don't like Jingle Bells because it's kind of irritating.

15. When do you plan to finish all your shopping?

I haven't even started shopping yet! Maybe as soon as I have the money to shop.